Advancing Sustainable Manufacturing to Meet SDG 12 Goals

Sustainable manufacturing is key to minimizing environmental impact and achieving SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 12, which calls for responsible production practices. By adopting these methods, companies not only meet growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products but also contribute to global climate targets.

Today’s eco-conscious consumers are shaping the market, with 34%⁽¹⁾ willing to pay more for sustainable products. This shift supports SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 12, which emphasizes responsible consumption and production. To align with these goals, companies must go beyond sustainable product patterns to ensure their entire manufacturing process is environmentally sound.

Manufacturing contributes 23% of carbon emissions in the U.S., highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices and sustainable production methods. By adopting technologies like virtual twin simulations and AI, companies can optimize production, reducing resource use and emissions before physical changes are implemented. Sustainable manufacturing not only cuts environmental impact but also reduces the material footprint, meeting the growing demand for products made through ethical methods, advancing SDG 12 and related climate and industry goals and targets.

By adopting sustainable manufacturing, companies can decrease carbon emissions and waste across production processes and the value network – all while staying ahead of tightening climate regulations. Improved resource use helps companies lower costs and increase operational efficiency. At the same time, they grow their brand reputation for creating genuinely sustainable products. The outcome is public trust, new customers and a strong competitive advantage.

With the virtual twin – a digital model of business processes – companies can explore new and more sustainable materials, designs and processes to drive sustainable innovation for the future. Powered by advanced digitalization, they’re set to realize their science-based targets by reducing carbon emissions across these scopes:

The circular economy is essential for sustainable manufacturing, aligning with SDG 12 indicators by keeping resources in use, reducing waste, and minimizing pollution. Platforms like 3DEXPERIENCE allow businesses to adopt circular practices by optimizing resources, reusing materials, and reducing waste at every stage.

Through closed-loop systems, companies can continuously recycle materials, lowering resource demand and their carbon footprint. Embracing these practices via digitalization not only reduces environmental impact but also supports long-term sustainability and operational efficiency, advancing responsible production and consumption.

Eco-conscious consumers are increasingly driving the shift toward sustainable manufacturing by seeking products with lower environmental impact. To meet this demand, companies can use platforms like 3DEXPERIENCE to provide transparency on practices such as emissions reduction, resource efficiency, and circular economy efforts.

Transparent labeling, such as providing carbon footprint data and eco-certifications, is crucial for building trust. By clearly communicating sustainability initiatives, companies not only enhance consumer confidence but also support responsible consumption and production in alignment with SDG 12 activities.

Virtual twin technology on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform provides a virtual universe where companies can collaboratively simulate and understand their ideas, products and processes – all before making a change in the real world. They’re empowered to identify the most sustainable solution before committing any physical resources. 

As a result, they’re able to:

With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, companies can design sustainable production processes that create truly sustainable products – and give consumers exactly what they want.